Aye Caramba! The real-life alter-egos of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and the rest of The Simpsons gang want more D'oh.

Six of the show's voice actors have failed to turn up for two table reads in the last couple of weeks in a strong-arm bid for better pay, delaying production on the hit 'toon's 16th season, reports Variety

The work stoppage comes after reps for the Simpsons cast sought to renegotiate the terms of their current deal with Fox TV executives but met with little success.

Talks to renew the thesps' contracts reportedly broke down when Fox rebuffed their request for a pay hike to $360,000 an episode each, or $8 million for the full 22-episode season. That's a major raise from the $125,000 an episode the cast raked in for seasons 13, 14, and 15.

That three-year deal expired at the end of last season and America's favorite dysfunctional family has been working without a contract ever since. Meanwhile, their agents and Fox have been battling over just how much is enough to keep them on The Simpsons, now the longest running show on television and the crown jewel of Fox's prime-time lineup.

The current impasse is similar to a contract battle that occurred in 1998 when Castellaneta and company were making just a meager $30,000 an episode. They went on a similar strike then because they felt they deserved their fair share of the revenue pie.

Mmmmpie.

The Simpsons is a global industry, earning more than $1 billion for Fox in syndication revenue with reruns showing all over the world and millions more through the licensing of merchandise.

A spokesman for Fox and James L. Brooks' Gracie Films, which produces The Simpsons, refused to comment on the contract dispute, as did the actors' reps.

While the group doesn't come close to Ray Romano's reported $1.7-$2 million per episode for his Emmy-winning series Everybody Loves Raymond, the CBS star does put in a heck of a lot more time on the clock.

That's because the Simpsons Six have the lightest work schedule this side of Springfield, showing up at the office about two half-days a week. And considering it takes a mere six to seven hours to voice an episode, an insider close to the negotiations told Variety that "they already have the deal of a lifetime."

It's expected both sides will eventually reach an agreement and the dispute will not affect the animated movie that Brooks and Simpsons creator Matt Groening are currently developing with a team of writers.

As Mr. Burns might say..."exxxxxcellent."
Yahoo.com

NatEcho

06-04-04, 12:06

I would not complain if I had that much money for such little work! :rolleyes:

However, T'is understandable that they want a more fair cut... http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/whistle.gif

Cato

06-04-04, 18:08

D'oh!

mr_croft79

06-04-04, 18:11

I love the Simpsons. I just bought the first complete season yesterday!! Because It was on sale for $19.99. At target!!
;)

mr_croft79

06-04-04, 18:12

Wow :eek: :eek:
16 seasons!!!! That is alot.
But, I will probably buy all of the seasons.
That is alot of money http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/c-1.gif
;)

Duffman

10-04-04, 03:34

This happened a while back and it was resolved...

Lets give it up for the longest running TV cartoon series - http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/c-5.gif

Including of course, the one and only Duffman... Oh Yeah!!... http://www.tombraiderforums.com/images/smilies/clown.gif